Elastic balance-valve



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. LEWIS.

BLASTIG BALANGBD VALVE.

Pagented June 21, 1887. l l

uuu" Wu 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. LEWIS.

BLASTIG BALANGED VALVE.

PatentedJu- 21,1 87.

m Cr

' when tting the plug to the casing.

NiTsn *STATES JOSEPH LEVIS, OF SOU TH EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

ELASTIC BALANCE-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,136, dated June 21, 1887.

Application filed October 7, 18S

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Josnrr-I LEWIS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in South Evanston,in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Elastic Balanced Valves, of which the following` is a specification.

It is well known that solid cylindrical plugvalvcs are objectionable for steam-engines, in consequence of the dii'l'erence between the expansion of the metal of the casing and that of the metal of the plug, and it has been necessary to make an allowance for such difference Considerable loss of steam occurs in all these valves by reason of this allowance for difference of expansion.

My present-invention relates to a new elastic plug-valve, which will be steam-tight and balanced under all variations of pressure and expansion of metals, and thus obviate the objection stated. It may be operated with a continuous rotary motion or with a reci procating motion. It is cylindrical, and the construction, whereby is obtained the elasticity to operate steam-tight under all variations of heat and pressure, is simple, and, because it is cylindrical, a slight longitudinal movement in the casing is admissible and even advantageous, as thereby is secured a more even wear on the valve-surfaces. Valves constructed on this principle are applicable to all forms of steam, gas, and compressed-air engines,-

water, force, and vacuum pumps, and blowing-engines; also for all forms of cocks and stop-valves for fluids, steam, gas, &e, under pressure.

A valuable feature of the invention lies in the fact that no grinding is required to iit the plugs, as in ordinary conical plug valves. The casing being bored ont cylindrical, the elastic plug is simply turned to iit easily therein, and the fluid pressure expands the valvecheeks to fit perfectly tight without excessive friction, as will be fully explained below.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure l. is an exterior view of my improved valve. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same. Fig.

G. Serial No.215,519. (No model.)

3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4- is a longitndinal section upon the line it 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5 5 ol" Fig. l. Fig. G is an exterior view cfa modification of the construction shown in the previous figures. Fi gs.7 and 8 are sections of this modification on lilies 7 7 and S S, respectively, of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an exterior view of a double-headed valve embodying my invention. Fig. l0 is a transverse section of a single-headed valve as applied to cocks, stop-valves, Eve., and Fig. 1l. is a longitudinal section of the same and its casing.

In the principal figuresis shown a cast-metal shell, composed of two ilat sides, B B, and ends b b. The interior surfaces of the sides and ends are recessed to receive the Babbitt-metal facings F F. I prefer to apply this Babbittmetal while the shell is on a steel mandrel to secure a perfect opening through thc shell, both in form and size.

A A are the expanding-cheeks. They are separate pieces, and arc best cast in metal molds, so that when the castings are removed from the molds they will easily fit the babbitted hole in the shell. The outside of the cheek-pieces is covered with hard sheet-brass E E or other suitable material.

XVhile in the flat state the exhaust-port openings hcreinafter mentioned are punched out of the brass sheet, and a number of small holes, c, are also .formed therein and countcrsunk on the outside. Then the plates are bent in to the proper forni by rollers in the usual manner; or these plates can be cast of any suitable material which forms a good wearing-surface, in proper form, and with all the openings completely formcdthercin. The plates are placed in the mold in which the cheeks are cast, so that in thc casting of the latter the metal will run into and iill the holes c, and thus securely attach the plates. The spots of alloy thus exposed on the valve-surfaces will act as antifriction strips. The cheek-pieces have hollow interior shanks or guide portions, a,which enter the shell transversely and fit against the babbitted sides and the ends thereof.

D D are recesses in the shanks of" the valvecheeks,which are iilled with asbestus packing where steam is used, or india-rubber when IOO cold water isused, thus forming tight joints 'between the valve-cheeks and the shell, and

yet slightly elastic ones.

. In the manufacture the cheeks may be placed in the shell, and an ordinary bolt, passing through the cross-arms m of the two cheeks, be used to clamp them together, while they are turned to the size required, but when completed for use they are furnished with an elastic or yielding clamp. This may be formed by the bolt M and springs R R. (See Figs.l 4 and 5.) The tension of these springs should be such as to nearly balance the intended fluid pressure to which the valve is subjected in use-that is to say the fluid pressure exerted upon the interior surfaces, s s, of the valvecheeks and tending to force the cheeks outward and apart from each other. The particular form of springs and their manner of application is of course quite immaterial, so long as they are strong kenough and perform the oflice designated. They can be adjusted by tightening or loosening' the nuts upon the bolt, vso that the cheeks will operate steamtight with'out exerting excessive friction on the casing. The cross-arms of the cheeks are recessed properly to receive the springs, and it is desirable that both springs and bolts be nickel-plated to prevent oxidation. of a single tension-.bolt two or more may be used, as the case may require.

I-I is a pipe secured by bolts h, passing through its ange into the ends b b, and represents the centralexhaust connecting with the central opening of the valve. As shown, the ports O O are steam-ports, while the ports P P exhaust into the center and thus communicate with pipe H. The valve rotates or oscillates upon the pipe Hand spindle K, and

its operation will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

In Figs. 6,7, and 8 a modified form of tension spring is employed, which may be preferable Where strength is required to balance the pressure on large valves. It consists of ahub, C, with lateral arms c, slightly inclined, as shown, so the extremities only of the arms will rest upon the cross-pieces of the valve-cheeks.

In Fig. 9 a double-headed valve is shown, each head being elastic and constructed aecording to my present invention. Where the head is thus duplicated any suitable connection may be used to connect the two heads together, as by a pipe, L, similar to the pipe H, and attached to the heads in a similar way by lian ges and bolts. Itis requisite in the double valve that the two heads be secured to the connection with the steam-ports of one exactly in line with the exhaust-ports of the other. I prefer' to make the heads and'conne'ction L separate, because they are then more easily manipulated. Heads of all sizes can be made to gage, ready to operate singly or in multiple, as required, and the pipes L be cut to any length desired.

The invention is shown in Figs. l0 and 1l Instead Y in connection with a suitable casing, J J, and

in a form adapted to use with cocks and valves for all fluids under pressure. In this form the cross-arms m are dispensed with, and modified springs p, spanning the openings through the Shanks of cheeks, are employed. The casing is provided with a cap and stufling-box at L', ,and a stufling-box, N, surrounds the outletpipe. The iuid enters the passage It and follows the arrows to each end of the plug into the ports S S, corresponding to the steam-ports O O, the pressure acting to spread the valvecheeks apart, but is controlled by the bolt and springs. The exhaust-ports T I correspond to the portsl? I? and open to the central exhaust, as in the other igures.

V V are outlet-passages; and it will be noticed from Fig. 1l that one of them is open to one of the 'exhaust-ports While the other is closed. Of course as the plug revolves these passages are opened and closed alternately, and the same result follows if the plugis oscillated one-fourth of a revolution.

For special purposes the passages V may be placed in various positions. The valvespindles Dl may in small apparatus be in one piece with the shell, as here shown; butin respects not here mentioned the apparatus shown in these figures is similar to that illustrated in the previous figures.

I claim- 1. As a new manufacture, the plug-Valve having elastic or expanding cheeks and a central exhaust, substantially as set forth. 2. The plug-valve provided with expanding cheeks, and a yielding clamp resisting the expansion of the cheeks, substantially as specified.

3. The plug-valve consisting-.of the shell, the expanding cheeks, and the yielding clamp, all combined and operating substantially as specified.

4. The shell, in combination with the expanding cheeks, having shanks fitting transversely in said shell, and the bolt and springs Aholding the cheeks together and resisting the pressure upon them, substantially as specified. r l

5. The shell open transversely to receive the cheek-shanks, and having a central exhaust, in combination with the expanding cheeks having shanks entering the shell and ports open to said central exhaust, and a clamp Ico IIO

surfaces, s s, to receive the expanding presstherein, the easing having an open space nt nre of the stenin, substantially as set forth. each end of the plug to balance the pressure Io 9. The Valve-easing, in combination with an thereon, substantially as specified.

elastic plug-valve having ports, as set forth,

5 and a central hollow spindle serving as an eX- JOSEPH LEWIS' hanst, substantially as' specified. YVitnesses:

10. The valve-casing, in combination with H. M. MUNDAY, an elastic plug-valve rotating' or oscillating EDW. S. EVARTS. 

